BRIDGET BARRETT | PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Bridget Barrett
Chief of Staff for Pennsylvania Rep. Emily Kinkead

A common thread that runs through all of Bridget Barrett’s work is connecting people to the right resources and support. She did that in her four years working for former Congressman Mike Doyle, assisting in immigration issues, and as chief of staff for both former state Rep. Sara Innamorato and now state Rep. Emily Kinkead.

She’s carried that focus to her community work, too. Although she grew up in Lincoln Place and Murrysville, she became involved with Etna because it was part of Innamorato’s state district. She not only moved there with her family in 2019, but also serves on the Etna Community Organization board, where she’s helped plan and raise money to develop a new library for the borough.

She’s also brought new programs — such as dementia awareness training — to Etna. She recognizes that not everyone has had the advantage of living in strong neighborhoods. “I think that I have a responsibility to try and create that for other people.”